Traveling by bus is environmental friendly

Plan a sustainable exchange

Whilst going on exchange is an unforgettable and often life-changing experience, in many cases it comes with a heavy environmental price tag. We urge all students to be conscious of the environmental impact of their exchange and to make sustainable choices wherever possible.

What impact does my exchange have on the environment?

Spending a semester on exchange is an unforgettable experience for many students. You will enhance your language skills, make friends from all over the world, get a taste of new cultures, and give your resume an impressive boost. However, students travelling all over the world for their exchange semester has a significant impact on the environment. Most students travel to their exchange destination via airplane, yet the air travel industry is a major source of greenhouse gases and pollution. 

What can I do about it?

In February 2020, Tilburg University pledged to commit to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes committing to protecting the environment and all species on earth, and taking action against climate change. As part of Tilburg University's efforts, the Study Abroad & Exchange Office wants to encourage students to think about sustainability wherever possible throughout their exchange. Read the accordion items below for some areas you could pay attention to.

Travel sustainably

Travelling to and from your host destination

Luckily, there are many alternatives to flying nowadays that are more affordable and accessible than you might think, especially within Europe.  For example, there are excellent rail networks,  sleeper trains and international buses, connecting the Netherlands to many major cities throughout Europe and even beyond. For example:

You might also consider taking a bus or exploring carpooling schemes. Some forms of boat travel can also have a smaller carbon footprint than flying. There is no perfect or totally 'green' way to travel as every transport method affects the environment in some way. Nevertheless, there are small changes that students can make to reduce the negative environmental implications of their exchange experience. 

Travelling during your exchange

Many students travel during their exchange to explore their host country and surrounding countries. We encourage students to consider less polluting ways to travel when making these trips, like student Manouk who traveled around India by train after her exchange at KIMEP in Kazakhstan:

“During and after exchanges it’s very tempting to travel. After my exchange in Kazakhstan and travelling to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, I went backpacking through India. Even though most of the trips could not be made without the use of an airplane, in India we took a 36-hour train ride from Varanasi to Chennai, spanning 1700 kilometres. Not only is this a more sustainable way of travelling, it also gave me very interesting experiences of India and its culture I would have probably missed if I would have taken the plane. Since my return I’ve taken many train rides through Europe as well, and I personally find it more convenient also than taking a plane!”

There are many scenic and very impressive train routes to enjoy all over the world. Check out this article about some of Europe's most impressive train journeys, and this one about 11 beautiful train rides globally

What if my exchange destination is very far away?

Taking the train or bus may not be doable for everyone, especially if your exchange destination is outside of Europe. Even if travelling in a more environmentally-friendly way is not possible for you, don't feel discouraged. There are still plenty of other ways to make sustainable choices when planning your exchange. Here are some ideas:

  • You could offset (some of) the environmental impact of your flight. There are many online resources that help you to calculate the emissions produced by your journey. You can then donate or contribute to a cause that helps to remove those emissions back out of the environment, such as planting trees, finding renewable energy sources, or donating more energy efficient resources to developing communities.
  • If you want to open a bank account in your host country, choose a sustainable bank. (Many mainstream banks make big investments in fossil fuel industries). Bank.Green is a good tool for your research.
  • If you need to buy anything, source local or second hand products.
  • Lower your meat intake and explore the vegetarian and vegan options your host destination has to offer. You can use Happy Cow to find plant-based eateries in your area.
Information sheets

Our handy information sheets collate lots of sustainable initiatives for you to act on during your exchange. We have a sheet for students going on exchange to EU destinations, and one for students going to non-EU destinations.

Contact and further support

More information and tips about travelling sustainably, including how to plan your route and find tickets, can be found on our Canvas page. You can also contact us to plan a short consultation session to help you plan a more sustainable exchange. 

Tilburg University is currently exploring the possibility of offering financial grants in the future, to help students cover the cost of their more environmentally-friendly journeys. More updates will be made available as soon as they are available.

We are always interested in receiving testimonials from students who had a sustainable exchange experience. Please contact us to share your experience and tips for Tilburg University's future exchange students!